After the most unusual off-season in the National Football League’s history. The 2020 Cincinnati Bengals season will begin this Sunday. Despite high hopes, Cincinnati’s unusual off-season and longstanding challenges could undercut their 2020 aspirations.

This is a promising Bengals team with a new franchise quarterback. Along with many talented returning veterans like Tyler Boyd, Joe Mixon and A.J. Green. They did some rare free agent spending. While avoiding the destabilizing off-season injuries that have plagued them in recent years. There’s reason to hope the Bengals wont repeat last year’s dismal 2-14 campaign.

That being said, every NFL team had a less rigorous than usual training camp. Plus, no preseason games for players to help them get into a game-day rhythm. All due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. Frankly everyone is going to be a bit rusty for the first couple of weeks. Both players and referees regardless of whether they’re rookies or veterans. While every team is going into this season facing similar challenges. Cincinnati is in a particularly vulnerable position going into this season.

Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow is heading into this season without the preparation an NFL rookie usually gets. While being handed the keys to the franchise as 2020’s top draft pick. Burrow’s not starting this season facing a random FCS school. Which is how high-profile FBS programs like LSU Football typically starts a season. With the expectation that the FCS school will lose by 50. Burrow is about to face players at the highest level of American Football. The Bengals future looks bright if he and fellow rookies succeed despite these challenges.

If college football is any guide, NFL fans should be prepared for a few weeks of lackluster games. While college football doesn’t have preseason games. Numerous programs also had less rigorous preseason practices. The effects of that are playing out in the handful of college games played so far. Four of the nine winning teams in NCAA Division I games last weekend won by 26 points or more. Two of those games were shutouts; where the winning team won by over 40 points. It’s reasonable to expect similar rusty starts from various NFL teams.

Meanwhile, another Cincinnati professional team serves as a reminder of different issue. An off-season packed with big acquisitions doesn’t always yield immediately stellar results. The Cincinnati Reds are struggling despite high preseason expectations. Despite adding talented and promising stars through free agency. While not going through the fire sales they had in recent years. They have an offense and bullpen that mostly goes cold late in games. A problem the Reds have been struggling with for at least five years.

The Reds struggles don’t inherently mean their future is grim. This is still a team with the talent capable of being contenders. In the midst of a short season with multiple changes. From a universal designated hitter and seven inning double-headers. The Bengals are increasingly building towards being future contenders too.

However, old problems could still hamper the Bengals this year. Such as their offensive line struggles to avoid three and out drives. Leaving the Bengals defense overworked while injuries collectively took a toll. Fixing those problems remains the main obstacle for the Bengals on the field. The Bengals and their fans hope they can clear that and other obstacles.